SPCA Opens New Veterinary Center

SPCA Tampa Bay’s new full-service Veterinary Center now open in St. Petersburg
Veterinary center clients receive comprehensive, high-quality care while helping “paw it forward” for other animals in the community

With each visit, clients of the new veterinary center are helping other animals in the community. A portion of all Veterinary Center revenue will “paw it forward” by supporting the programs and services at SPCA Tampa Bay’s animal shelter in Largo, as well as helping other families with their pet’s care through the Keeping Families Together Fund.

Any pet owner – not just owners who have adopted from SPCA Tampa Bay – can bring their pet to the Veterinary Center for full-service care that includes wellness, medical, surgery, and general care services.

Two general practice veterinarians, Nicole Mayne, DVM and Mary Giron, DVM, provide a range of care for dogs and cats at the Veterinary Center. Dr. Mayne focuses on long-term health for pets, and Dr. Giron has a special interest in dentistry and holds certification in veterinary acupuncture. Veterinary surgeon Chelsea Sykes, DVM performs the Veterinary Center’s spay and neuter services.

In addition to providing high-quality pet care, the Veterinary Center offers a low-cost spay and neuter services to help reduce pet overpopulation in the community. Spaying or neutering a dog or cat prevents unwanted or unexpected litters, which helps limit pet overpopulation, and it has health benefits for the pet. SPCA Tampa Bay’s high quality, high volume spay/neuter clinic will also partner with local trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) organizations and volunteers to spay/neuter and vaccinate Pinellas County’s community cats.

Each year, more than 7,500 animals are surrendered to SPCA Tampa Bay. Pet owners often cite the inability to provide medical care as the reason a pet owner surrenders a pet to SPCA Tampa Bay and other local animal shelters. SPCA Tampa Bay aims to reduce the number of pets entering local animal shelters and keep more pets in their homes by partnering with local veterinarians.

“The Veterinary Center offers tremendous opportunity to extend the reach of SPCA Tampa Bay’s mission and offer services to more pet owners in Pinellas County,” said Martha Boden, CEO of SPCA Tampa Bay. “By offering comprehensive pet care and working closely with veterinarians, we can continue to improve our community by keeping more pets in their homes and reducing pet overpopulation.”

Pets can receive specialized care or have surgery at the Veterinary Center while retaining their regular veterinarian for ongoing care. The Veterinary Center team will coordinate care with a pet’s current veterinarian to best support the needs of the animal and its owner.

At the Veterinary Center, access to flexible hours and creative payment solutions provide pet owners with additional options for their pet’s care. Donor support will sustain SPCA Tampa Bay’s Keeping Families Together Fund, which creates availability to offer payment plans and helps to keep pets with their families.

SPCA Tampa Bay continues to operate the Wellness Clinic at its shelter in Largo three days a week. Other services and programs offered at the Largo campus include animal admission and transport, pet adoption, animal cruelty investigation, Sniff University training, children’s summer camps and more.

The SPCA Tampa Bay Veterinary Center is located at 3250 5th Ave. N. in St. Petersburg. Starting Monday, Oct. 17, the Veterinary Center is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call (727) 220-1770. For more information, please visit http://spcatampabay.org/veterinary-center/.

About SPCA Tampa Bay
SPCA Tampa Bay accepts all pets surrendered by their owners and injured wildlife. The organization cares for more than 7,500 animals that are admitted each year. The organization’s mission is to improve the community by promoting humane care, preventing animal cruelty and reducing pet overpopulation. Community services include animal cruelty investigation, accessible wellness care, lost/found pet assistance, animal admission and animal transport. SPCA programs include pet adoption, free pet behavior help, Sniff University training for dogs and cats, children’s summer camps and more. Founded in 1940, SPCA Tampa Bay is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, which operates an animal shelter located on 10 acres in Largo as well as a 12,500 square-foot, full-service Veterinary Center in St. Petersburg. For more information: www.spcatampabay.org.